broadway show suggestions
 

couple in mid 20s will be in NYC starting memorial day weekend for 5 days. any suggestions on broadway shows and where to buy affordable tickets? if possible, we'd like to attend 2 shows.

This site will give you discount codes for buying reduced price tickets.
http://www.broadwaybox.com/

check broadwaybox.com for discounts.

do you want to see a drama, musical, comedy? Gypsy just got rave reviews as did In the Heights.

As far as dramas, I've heard good things about MacBeth, and August: Osage County.

For musicals, I liked (of those listed with discounts) Hairspray, Rent, and Phantom. I havent' seen a bunch of the others so I can't speak for those.

You might like Avenue Q or Spring Awakening - more of a youthful edge.

My husband and I (late 20s) both really enjoyed Avenue Q when we saw it in NY last April. We got the tickets with a discount found on broadwaybox.com shortly before our trip. Other shows I'd recommend based just on age are Spamalot (haven't seen it, but I've heard it's fun; we'll be seeing the tour later this month), Hairspray, and Chicago. (Maybe Wicked and Rent, but I'm in the minority and don't really care for them.)

If you don't get discount tickets in advance you can get them at the TKTS booth on the day of the performance. There's one at the Marriott in Times Square and another one at the South Street Seaport. Since the city is usually dead on Memorial Day weekend you might get lucky.

I second the recommendation of Phantom, and also recommend MammaMia, a really fun show which generally has discount tickets.
Also, Gypsy, which just opened last week. It's a great show. It was on discount, but got great reviews, so that might change.

I don't know if it's still playing, but The Producers was absolutely hysterical. The movie sucked, but the show was awesome!

The Producers has closed.

Throwing another suggestion into the mix- Xanadu. Loads of fun.

You should be able to get discount tix....

Absolutely LOVED Mamma Mia, if that's still playing....also, the Lion King was spectacular for the choreography and costumes!

I second both Spring Awakening and Avenue Q. Great for the 20-something set. Avenue Q is very funny (and a little naughty) and Spring Awakening is quite adult with stellar music. However, Jonathan Groff and Lea Michelle are set to leave the leading roles that they originated in Spring Awakening, so I'm not sure how the replacements will be.

I also love Rent - it was supposed to close June 1st but it's run was extended. Might be fun to catch it before it closes.

Wicked is terrific!! No discounts, but a great, great show.

I can't wait to see Gypsy.

I have a good friend (in her 20s) that just saw Passing Strange and In the Heights and highly recommends both.

And that's just musicals! August: Osage County is supposed to be great, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof has a simply stellar cast.

If Wicked is still playing, we absolutely loved it. Major standing ovation at the end.

A show that I loved and got discount tix to was Legally Blonde. It's light and funny and entertaining. My DH, who normally isn't a fan of shows, loved it as well. We got the tix through a Travelzoo offer.

I just got back from seeing Wicked. Just loved it---fantastic. However, I don't think my hubby would care for it. I also saw Legally Blonde--loved it. I've seen Mamma Mia and would also recommend. My hubby is a "man's man" and generally does not like shows. However, he likes anything that's lighthearted with humor in it. He has seen Le Miserables and liked it. I also think he'd like Legally Blonde and Mamma Mia b/c of the humor.

Curtains is good and it's easy to get at TKTS. Cry baby is a disappointment. If you liked the movie you probably won't like it. It has it's moments but overall it's kinda tedious.

How about South Pacific? Its getting good reviews.

What about an "oldie but goodie" -- South Pacific.

Thanks to everyone for great suggestions, as I'm also planning a theater vacation.

I have had good luck going to the box office when they open at 10, for tickets for that day. The tickets are full price, but they are often the best seats in the house.

Because I like theater more than my husband, I will also be able to get a single ticket for a hard to get show while he catches up online at the hotel, and comes to pick me up for dinner.

I have not seen Mama Mia on stage, but just saw the preview for the movie version last night. Whatever I thought Mama Mia was about, it certainly wasn't about a young woman who invites three of her mother's former lovers to her wedding and then spends the next hour and a half figuring out which one is her father. Is this really what the stage show is about, or does the film take some liberties?

Just wanted to say that if you go to see Wicked, I'd recommend renting the Wizard of Oz before you go, lots of references to it in Wicked. My husband is not a fan of musical theater at all, but he really enjoyed it and was laughing out loud in several spots.

No, Susan, that is exactly what the stage version was about.

Huh.

Thanks, Patrick. Has anyone else seen the trailer? Meryl Streep plays the mother.

We also enjoyed Curtains; it has very clever and funny dialogue, and the music is good. Spamalot is also fun, but the humor is broader and more visual.

what exactly is Xanadu about?

Do you think I'd be able to find tix to Legally Blonde or Xanadu at TKS the first weekend in June?

Quite possibly for both. They also both have discounts available (but will end before the end of May). They are 99% likely to be extended however. With those you can print off the code, and go to the box office on your arrival in NYC and get discounted tickets for either show -- best seats available. They aren't quite half price, but close.
The current price for discounted best seats for Legally Blond is $67.50 and for Xanadu -- $56.50 during the week or $69.50 weekends.
Those are through either playbill.com or broadwaybox.com

From the listings here's what Xanadu is about:
"Based on the film of the same name, Xanadu centers on a Greek muse who is sent to earth to inspire Californians during the 1980s. While on earth, she meets and falls in love with an artist and helps him realize his dreams."

Sound serious? Absolutely not. It spoofs the "horrible" cult movie, and when you realize the artist's dream is to build a roller disco, you'll have some idea of how very funny and over the top silly the whole thing is.

There are so many good shows to chose from, I wouldn't know where to begin to select just 2 without knowing what you like.
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/theater...way/index.html

Agree that Ave Q is a lot of fun for 20 somethings. "In the Heights" is proving a big crowd pleaser.

"South Pacific" got such raves, I think they've extended the run. "Gypsy" with Patti Lupone also got great reviews. "August: Osage County" is sure to win all awards for drama.

There are 3 great plays currently running, in this order: 1) The Jersey Boys 2) Mama Mia 3)The Producers. All the others are just mediocre.

Barney, you're behind the times. The Producers closed months and months ago!
And, as far as Mamma Mia being great and all others (except for Jersey Boys) being mediocre.....well, that comment is too ludicrous to deserve any sort of response.

I'm with you Howard. Mama Mia is o.k., but that's about all. Jersey Boys is great.

According to SIL "South Pacific has turned into a open run".

We're going to see November -- great reviews on Fodors!

Here's something you should know about broadwaybox.com. I signed up and kept getting discount notices for various shows. The one for November expired on April 27 which is too early for me. I kept waiting for the discount to be extended but it didn't. Finally, one day I scrolled down on the page and realized that there was a 'past-date' discount coupon and somewhere on it, it said something like 'we know this is outdated but try it anyway; there might be seats'. I did try the outdated coupon and it did work -- $102.50 orchestra seats in row K for $75.

So -- if the date on the coupon they send you doesn't suit you, scroll down and see if you can use an outdated coupon.

Hi. Wow - great comments. I agree with most, that you will need to go with your taste most of all. I live in the city, have seen most shows, and would probably go with the crowd and recommend:

Avenue Q or Spamalot for comedy/musical; August: Osage County for a drama.

I haven't seen Spring Awakening or Curtains but heard great reviews.

If you try to get 1/2 price tix day of show, if you can, go to the location down at the south street seaport. much quicker and less crowded than times square.

Enjoy!

Barney, thanks for the laugh.

In fact, The Producers will have been closed for a year in just a couple weeks now (April 22)! So if you don't even know ANYTHING that has happened in the last year on Broadway. . .

hi everyone. thanks so much for the responses. i'm the original poster of the question...didn't realize i was signed in on my mom's name when i posted the question.

Jersey Boys, Wicked, Mamma Mia. Loved them all. If you like to laugh, definitely Spamalot.

At this point, I doubt you'd be able to get tickets for Wicked or Jersey Boys (especially on a holiday weekend), and definitely not at a discount.

You've received some great suggestions, and there's something out there to suit every taste. Do you have any shows you've enjoyed previously? That will help everyone give you the best recommendation.

My wife told me about The Country Girl that just opened. The cast looks great and its directed by Mike Nichols
http://www.newyorkcitytheatre.com/th...r/theater.html

Correction, this play just had its preview on April 3rd.

Hi! I absolutely LOVED "Grease", I saw it last September, and am going back in May to see it, and "Young Frankenstein"! "Grease" had such fun energy, great songs too; just a really fun evening----I highly recommend this show!!!!!!!! There is no way you could leave dissapointed, it was just so fun and infectious :) Have a fun time whatever you choose to do!

"There is no way you could leave dissapointed."

I think nearly all the critics and dozens of regular theatre goers I've talked with who saw this production would strongly disagree with that statement. The general consensus is that it just is not a very good production of Grease in any way. It's fine that you enjoyed it, and Grease is always lively and fun if nothing else, but I wouldn't suggest that there is "no way" that everyone else won't enjoy it just as much.

Have seen <b>Xanadu</b> twice. It is hysterically funny. The other nice thing is the size of the theater -- very small, so there are no bad seats.

Liked <b>Young Frankenstein</b> on last trip. <b>Wicked</b> is great, but a hard ticket to get. I think <b>Curtains</b> is closing soon. <b>Spamalot</b> is really funny. Its been around for awhile, so there are discounts I believe. <b>Hairspray</b> is another good show that has been running for quite some time, so discounts are available. Have you seen <b>A Chorus Line</b>? Its a true classic.